Inadequate Library Services: A Challenge to 21st Century Education in a Developing Economy

This paper examined inadequate library services as a challenge to 21st century education in a developing economy. The paper portrayed the library as a collection of books and other information materials in various formats, properly arranged for the promotion of human knowledge, stressing that the 21st century library, with the integration of ICT and as a custodian of both books and non-book materials in diverse formats, is expected to have quantum of information available to users at all times, in order to promote constructive education. The paper takes the position that for Nigeria’s educational system to impact the knowledge and skills desired for development that endures, adequate library services must be provided at all levels of education. The paper reviewed that most libraries in Nigeria are plagued with outdated materials and lack the required facilities and resources to satisfy users’ needs, which result in inadequate library services, poor academic performance in entrance examinations, and poor reading culture which negatively affects educational development. This paper presents the absence of technological literacy, inadequate workforce, scarcity of sufficient resources, poor funding and power outage as causes of inadequate library services. The paper therefore recommends that the library staff should be trained and retrained to initiate and manage technological tools. The library should be stocked with required materials. Inter-library services should be upheld and an alternative means of power should be provided to avoid power interruption and its associated consequences on library services for the proper functioning of 21st century education.